Water and Sanitation

Overview

Ensuring our residents have access to clean water is our priority. Fresh water is a scarce resource in the Western Cape that is heavily dependent on rainfall. We all have a part to play in conserving water as much as possible.

Here are a few water saving tips

In and around the house / business

Turn the tap off between washing your face, brushing your teeth or shaving.

Taking a five-minute shower a day, instead of a bath

Boil only as much water as you need, do not fill the kettle

Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Eg. when disposing of tissues, insects and other waste that can go in the bin.

Use "grey water" - used water from baths, washing machines and other safe sources - to flush your toilet.

Use a bucket rather than a hose to wash your car.

Do not pour paint and chemicals down the drain.

Farmers must ensure that they keep toxic insecticides away from water sources and streams.

Factories should take care of how they discharge mercury and other heavy metals into waste water.

People living in rural areas should be careful not to use the river or river bank as a toilet.

In the garden

Always water your plants during the early morning hours or in the evening

Every time you boil an egg, save the cooled water for your houseplants

Roof water can also be profitably stored in tanks, for watering gardens.

Use "grey water" - used water from baths, washing machines and other safe sources - to water your garden.

Water:

Beaufort West is dependant on three different water sources: Surface Water (Gamka Dam, Springfontein Dam and Walker Dam), Boreholes ( 36 Boreholes in 6 Aquifers) and the Water Reclamation Plant. During summer months water consumption is much higher than in the winter.

Sanitation:

Beaufort West Municipality has four Waste Water Treatment Plants that are situated in Beaufort West, Nelspoort, Merweville and Murraysburg.